ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I

Environmental Specialist IBase Salary: $1,616.00 BiweeklyLocation: 475 Story Road – Environmental Health Ocoee, FL 34761DOH – Orange is a tobacco free agency. This advertisement may be used to fill future vacancies as they become available. Your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process.Minimum Qualifications: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university AND a total of at least 30 semester hours or 40 quarter hours of undergraduate coursework in the natural sciences. Must provide official sealed transcripts. Authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship. Willing to physically come in the office daily and/or perform field work. Physically able to lift to 40 pounds, walk long distances, and work outdoors in various weather conditions. Access to personal transportation in lieu of a county vehicle. Currently have a valid FL driver's license OR a valid driver's license from another state. Incumbent will need to obtain food protection and pool operator certifications within six months of hire. Willing to occasionally work outside of normal hours to do inspections. Willing to work before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency.Job Duties and Responsibilities: Conduct inspections and re-inspections of establishments assigned to the Facilities Section of Environmental Health to ensure compliance with state and local public health rules and regulations. The programs of the Facilities Section include: educational institutions, food preparation and storage, group care facilities, foster homes, swimming pools and spas. Submit reports and maintain records of programs as required. Review records periodically to determine progress, status of permits and overall condition of facility. Provide consultation to management of facilities and to the public as needed to disseminate information regarding violations, corrective actions, and rules and procedures regulating respective program operations. Conduct complaint investigations in assigned programs to ascertain validity and to achieve abatement of nuisances. Conduct follow-up investigations and initiate legal action when necessary. Assist in the investigation of suspected food borne and waterborne illnesses as needed or assigned. Complete and return all paperwork pertaining to job duties legibly and in proper order. This would include timely submittal of timesheets, mileage, and EARS. Performs all other duties as required or assigned including assisting in the investigation of suspected food borne and waterborne illnesses. Maintains confidentiality and security of records as specified by departmental regulations and laws. Emergency duties will be required to be performed during declared emergencies and disasters except when an exemption from emergency duty has been granted.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities, Including Utilization of Equipment, Required for the Position: Ability to make decisions. Using logic and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches. Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments. Ability to communicate effectively. Ability to determine work priorities, assign work, and ensure proper completion of work assignments. Combining, evaluating, and reasoning with information and data to make decisions and solve problems. These processes involve making decisions about the relative importance of information and choosing the best solution. These processes also require The physical ability to walk for long periods of time, lift up to 40 lbs. and work outdoors in various weather conditions. Ability to talk to others to effectively convey information. Knowing how to find information and identifying essential information. Keeping up-to-date technically and knowing one's own jobs' and related jobs' functions. Ability to understand and follow legislative policy direction as established in FL Statutes. Florida Department of Health Mission, Vision, and Values: Mission: To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county & community efforts. Vision: To be the Healthiest State in the Nation. Values: Innovation: We search for creative solutions and manage resources wisely. Collaboration: We use teamwork to achieve common goals & solve problems. Accountability: We perform with integrity & respect. Responsiveness: We achieve our mission by serving our customers & engaging our partners. Excellence: We promote quality outcomes through learning & continuous performance improvement.The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida: Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits including: Annual and Sick Leave benefits; Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year; State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options; Retirement plan options, including employer contributions (For more information, please click Flexible Spending Accounts; Tuition waivers; And more! For a more complete list of benefits, including monthly costs, visit position requires a security background check and/or drug screening and participation in direct deposit. Any misrepresentations or omissions will disqualify you from employment consideration. Note: You will be required to provide your Social Security Number (SSN) in order to conduct this background check. Successful completion of a drug test is a condition of employment for safety-sensitive positions. Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website: If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement. The successful candidate will be required to complete the Form I-9 and that information will be verified using the E-Verify system. E-Verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility. Incumbents may be required to perform emergency duty before, during, and/or beyond normal work hours or days. All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English. Applicants who do not meet this requirement will not be considered. The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center View phone number on click.appcast.io). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation. The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act. Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation with more than 1.5 million service men and women. The Florida Department of Health (department) is committed to serving members of the United States Armed Forces, veterans and their families by encouraging them to apply for vacancies that fit their area of knowledge and/or expertise. Through the Department's VALOR program, which expedites licensing for military veterans, the Department also waives initial licensing and application fees for military veterans who apply for a health care professional license within 60 months of an honorable discharge. These initiatives help ensure that the transition from military service into the workforce is as smooth as possible and reflects our appreciation for the dedication devoted to protecting our country. Candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here. All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.